MP David Chaytor vows to fight expenses charges (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

MP David Chaytor vows to fight expenses charges

3:20pm Sunday 7th February 2010

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Lawyers for three Labour MPs facing charges over their expense claims believe they cannot be tried in court.

Legal experts connected with the case against Elliot Morley, Jim Devine and Bury North MP David Chaytor say their cases are covered by Parliamentary privilege.

The trio, plus Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield, have been charged with false accounting under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 and they deny the allegations.

The four men will not be arrested but will be sent a summons to turn up on March 11 at City of Westminster magistrates court, a short walk from the Houses of Parliament.

If found guilty, they face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

David Chaytor faces three charges under section 17 of the Theft Act 1968 for false accounting.

The first count alleges that in May 2006 Mr Chaytor dishonestly claimed £1,950 for computer services by using false invoices.

The second count alleges that between September 2005 and September 2006 Mr Chaytor dishonestly claimed £12,925 for renting a property in Regency Street, London, when he was allegedly its owner.

The third charge alleges that between September 2007 and January 2008 Mr Chaytor dishonestly claimed £5,425, purportedly for renting a property in Bury, Lancashire, from his mother.

In a joint statement, the three Labour MPs, who have been barred from standing as Labour candidates in the general election, said: "We totally refute any charges that we have committed an offence and we will defend our position robustly.

"We maintain that this is an issue that should be resolved by the parliamentary commissioner who is there to enforce any breach of the rules."

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